Cat urinating outside of the litterbox. Nothing helps.

Hello! I'm desperate for some advice!

We got a one year old Persian female kitty (from people we don't know) three weeks ago. They said she is litterbox trained and she did use it when we just brought her in. But then we realized that she was also urinating in different spots. Sometimes she goes in her litterbox, sometimes she doesn't. She always poops in her litterbox. She's urinated on a rug, in one corner of a room, a few times in a shower and in a bathtub. What I've done so far:

- we have two different litterboxes for her to use (she's the only cat)

- have tried different litter, tried Cat Attract litter (did not do a thing)

- went to the vet for a check-up, he thinks it's a behavioral issue

- scoop out her litterbox every time she goes 

- cleaned all the spots where she went with an enzyme cleaner

Lately, I've been locking her in a bathroom (mostly at night) when I can't see her and that seemed to be working well (she would go in the litterbox) but as soon as I got excited she started going in the bathtub. I put some foil in the bathtub, the next morning there were a couple of puddles of urine RIGHT NEXT to her litterbox. It's been three weeks and I'm at a loss of what else I can do. There seems to be no rhyme or reason of why she can't just use the litterbox. 

Some of my observations:

- if I'm watching her she pretty much always uses her litterbox

- she doesn't seem stressed, she eats, drinks water, loves to play 

She's spayed and declawed Don't know if it makes any difference.

Please help! 

When I brought my once feral cat inside I first used soil/dirt. I never needed to train her and have never had a problem. She just instinctively went to the soil.
Maybe try soil then if successful integrate the litter until back to litter.
Does she bury her poo? If she doesn't don't let her see you clean it up.
From what I've read cat peeing outside of the box is a unhappy/nervous thing.
If she pees or you see her pee in the litter box praise hardcore and treat. Try and teach her peeing in the box gets rewarded.

Hi, and welcome to TCS

Two possible causes come to mind. The first is simply the fact that she's declawed. Litterbox issues are extremely common in declawed cats, and it's generally related to pain issues. Using a really soft litter can help - a paper litter such as Yesterday's News is ideal. Another possible option is a really fine grained non clumping litter - the finer the better. Some cats, though, can never fully take to litter again. For these cats, puppy pee pads are a good option. You can either just put a layer in a regular box, or you can get special trays for them.

The other possibility is feline idiopathic cystitis. This can be very difficult to diagnose, as sometimes the inflammation has no obvious cause and there isn't always an infection present. I know you say your girl isn't stressed, but litterbox avoidance can be the only sign of stress. This is certainly true of my girl (who, incidentally, has FIC). Given that you got your girl only three weeks ago, I can almost guarantee that she's stressed - just from coming to a new home. You sound like a wonderful cat mom, but any move is highly stressful for cats. [article="32366"][/article][article="33610"][/article][article="33052"][/article][article="30307"][/article][article="30316"][/article][article="32758"][/article][article="31290"][/article][article="33457"][/article][article="33493"][/article]

 Maybe try soil then if successful integrate the litter until back to litter.

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Thank you! I'll add it to my "to-try" list.

 Does she bury her poo? If she doesn't don't let her see you clean it up.

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Sometimes she does, sometimes she doesn't.

Yes, definitely the problem is that she was declawed & the litter hurts her paws. The people you got her from lied to you about her urination - it didn't start with you. Why the heck do people torture a cat with declawing.

First thing I'd ask is has she been to the vet recently and had blood work done? Maybe she has a bladder infection. Sometimes the stress of moving can also cause house soiling. Also are there any other cats in your area? Neighbors, strays, etc. Of another cat is lurking around she could be being territorial. Where did you keep her box. Is it possible she got spooked while using it? (Washer/dryer, furnace turning on, car starting, foot traffic toilet flushing baby crying etc.)

Columbine said:

Hi, and welcome to TCS

Two possible causes come to mind. The first is simply the fact that she's declawed. Litterbox issues are extremely common in declawed cats, and it's generally related to pain issues. Using a really soft litter can help - a paper litter such as Yesterday's News is ideal. Another possible option is a really fine grained non clumping litter - the finer the better. Some cats, though, can never fully take to litter again. For these cats, puppy pee pads are a good option. You can either just put a layer in a regular box, or you can get special trays for them.
 

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Thank you! Wow, poor thing, I'll definitely have to try a paper litter or at least something soft.

 The other possibility is feline idiopathic cystitis. This can be very difficult to diagnose, as sometimes the inflammation has no obvious cause and there isn't always an infection present. I know you say your girl isn't stressed, but litterbox avoidance can be the only  sign of stress. This is certainly true of my girl (who, incidentally, has FIC). Given that you got your girl only three weeks ago, I can almost guarantee that she's stressed - just from coming to a new home. You sound like a wonderful cat mom, but any move is highly stressful for cats.

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I'll have to look into that! Today she went two times, one time in the litterbox and the second time (the litterbox was clean) right next to it. 

IndyJones said:

First thing I'd ask is has she been to the vet recently and had blood work done? Maybe she has a bladder infection. Sometimes the stress of moving can also cause house soiling. Also are there any other cats in your area? Neighbors, strays, etc. Of another cat is lurking around she could be being territorial. Where did you keep her box. Is it possible she got spooked while using it? (Washer/dryer, furnace turning on, car starting, foot traffic toilet flushing baby crying etc.)

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No blood work was done, the vet did the physical and said she was a healthy cat and thinks the issue was behavioral. I'll have to do the follow up appointment if nothing helps. 

She's always inside (we live in apartments) and I haven't seen any stray cats that she might possibly see out of the window. 

Her litterbox was in the living room area originally,  placed against the wall in a private but an open area. It's just me and my husband so our place is quite so I don't think we ever spooked her when she used it. Now her litterboxes are in the bathroom closest to the living room. I have to lock her if I leave the house or at night. 

Primula said:

Why the heck do people torture a cat with declawing.

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The saddest thing ever!!

reena1 said:

The saddest thing ever!!

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Same reason they rip the dewclaws off day old puppies without any anesthetic.

The reason for dewclaw removal (claw getting caught) seems a bit invalid to me. My Indy got her rear claw torn and infected. Would I get her claws removed to keep it from happening again? No.